Chapter 33
Survival of the Mounties
It was almost dawn when Chu Qiao, with her usual cold look, splashed some spring water onto the young lieutenant's face. Suddenly, Ge Qi woke up, feeling as though he had been submerged in a body of water, looking almost drowned.
Startled by the sight of the woman in front of him, bloodied and with her hood open, he quickly stood and reached for his dagger, turning his back to her.
Viper stood behind him, towering over him. Her right hand tapped her folded whip against her left palm, her expression fierce. Chu Qiao, not wanting the young man to act defensively, said, "At ease."
When Ge Qi heard the voice and confirmed it was a woman, he asked, "Are you back? General Chu Qiao of the Xiuli Army?"
Hearing this, Chu Qiao felt as though music had reached her ears, and she replied, "I am Chu Qiao, the lost general of the Xiuli Army, if that's what you prefer to call me."
The man dropped to his knees and exclaimed, "Long live the General! We have been searching for you for a year. We thought you had perished at the lake. Seeing you today, I thank the Qians (heavens) for granting us this miracle."
Tears of joy filled Ge Qi's eyes as he bowed his head to the ground. Chu Qiao approached him, lifted his head, and said, "Now, can you show me the troops of the Xiuli Army?"
"Yes, General," Ge Qi said as he stood up. But before he could continue, Chu Qiao stopped him, saying, "Before we embark on another journey, have a hearty meal first."
Viper brought out some cooked food, and Ge Qi's eyes widened with delayed hunger. Without hesitation, he began to eat. He Xiao had sent supplies from Yanbei's granary and storehouses, filling their saddlebags with rice, meat, medicine, light weapons, extra sword scabbards, and garments.
While Ge Qi ate, Chu Qiao tended to his infected foot. She cleaned the wound with spring water, wiped it with a white cloth, applied balm, and then wrapped it with a bandage.
As Ge Qi watched Chu Qiao, his tear-filled eyes softened. Though his mouth was full of food, he managed to bow and say, "Thank you, General Chu. I am ashamed to be in such poor condition, but I am grateful that you are here."
"Stop thanking me," Chu Qiao replied, "Finish your meal, and let's meet the troops."
Chu Qiao felt both renewed and burdened by the past. She couldn't believe she had once been the general of a dying army. Now, she felt lost, angry, and conflicted, both merciful and cold toward whoever had caused this hardship for the Xiuli Army. Wearing the general's uniform, she questioned whether she was worthy of it.
After a short while, the three of them walked across a barren landscape of grassy plains and into a forest. Chu Qiao asked for a brief stop and told Ge Qi he could change into one of the garments He Xiao had provided. Ge Qi gladly nodded and went to a nearby lake to wash and change.
In his new garment, Ge Qi looked youthful and handsome, his eyes now full of life and brightness, far removed from the weary man of the night before.
Chu Qiao retrieved a sword from her horse and handed it to Ge Qi. "I didn't bring everything," she said, "but we have enough for the troops. He Xiao reserved these for all of you. Take this."
Still feeling overwhelmed, Ge Qi said, "I'd almost forgotten what a sword looks like. Thank you, General."
Chu Qiao smiled and said, "Now, you won't just remember it, you'll feel its protection."
Ge Qi, eager to test the sword, displayed some swordplay. Chu Qiao and Viper clapped in appreciation, and Ge Qi, bowing like an actor after a performance, suddenly felt a sharp pain as an arrow pierced his back.
Viper sprinted toward the forest in pursuit of the archer, while Chu Qiao rushed to Ge Qi's side, saying, "At ease, I've got you."
Exhausted, Ge Qi looked up at Chu Qiao's calm and beautiful eyes and said, "I am glad to have seen the true beauty of the Xiuli Army, our general, who defended and fought for us, never abandoning us despite our mistakes. Now, I can say General Chu never left us, and she is with me in this moment."
"Sshhh…" Chu Qiao hushed him. "Don't speak such words yet. You're young, and we will remove this arrow and return you to your troops."
Ge Qi, his voice weakening, said, "I just wanted to thank you, General. Whatever happens, I'm happy to have seen your face, even if it means I die on these treacherous roads."
A cold wind swept over them, and Chu Qiao was momentarily lost in memories of Feng Mian, the sunny and loyal servant of the Yanbei prince. She had held Feng Mian in the same way she now held Ge Qi. The memories rushed back to her like grains of sand slipping through an hourglass. A tear fell from her eye as she looked at Ge Qi, who was slipping away. The arrow had pierced close to his heart, and only a skilled healer could remove it without further damage.
Chu Qiao softly said, "You will live. You are too young to die like this, this is not the end of your story."
Viper returned, having captured the archer, and when she saw Ge Qi, she cried out, "No, you cannot die like this! No! No!"
Viper, in her anger, strangled the enemy archer but refrained from killing him, as he had not yet been interrogated. Chu Qiao, staring coldly at the archer, said, "If he dies, I will send your soul to the underworld." The enemy archer shuddered, feeling goosebumps rise on his skin, terrified by Chu Qiao's words.
Viper then commanded the enemy archer, "Kneel and lay your head to the ground!" The archer obeyed, his hands and feet bound, leaving him unable to move or escape.
Viper approached Chu Qiao, who was cradling Ge Qi, and said, "Mimi Gongzhu, if you wish, you can use your Hing Ba Na. As the leader of the Wind and Cloud Decree, you possess that power, but the consequences are unknown. Last time, it took away all your memories. Are you willing to lose a part of your mortal self again to save this young man?"
Chu Qiao hadn't fully regained her memories, yet now she was faced with sacrificing another part of herself to save someone else.
Looking at Ge Qi, though they had only met the night before, she felt an inexplicable connection to him, similar to what she had felt for Feng Mian in her memories. There had been moments in the past when she wished to help but couldn't.
This time, she made her decision. "I shall do it," she told Viper.
Gently, Chu Qiao laid Ge Qi's head down as his eyes remained closed, pain etched on his face.
She stood and slowly removed her bloodied hood, letting it fall to the ground.
Now in her Xiuli general's uniform, she took it off as well, revealing only her white inner garment. Her body, fragile and delicate, seemed out of place for a warrior, and her face was calm but void of emotion. The flower tattoo on her back began to glow, igniting with fire. Once again, she felt the searing pain of the inscription. Before she closed her eyes, Viper whispered, "Mimi Gongzhu, you know how to return. At this time, in this place, I trust you."
...
And once again, Chu Qiao used her Hing Ba Na. Whether willingly or not, the consequences of wielding such power, bringing someone back from death, meant crossing the Higanbana flowers of the forgotten rivers of the underworld. This power could alter the course of time and the destiny of the person she sought to save.
What happened next...
In a trance-like state, an unearthly light came to the soul of a young man walking through a field of flowers. He looked around and said, "I've never seen this place before," but the sweet fragrance enticed him to keep walking. As he gazed upward, he saw an endless field of flowers.
A gentle wind blew across his face, and when he looked down, he noticed a narrow path, just wide enough for his footsteps. It seemed as though this was the only way forward, the only path he must follow.
As the fragrance of the flowers intensified, so did his urge to continue. He walked endlessly until he came upon an old man in a black hood standing by the shore of a misty, calm river. A small boat waited beside him.
The young man strained to see what lay on the other side, but there was only darkness and swirling mist, no one had ever returned to tell of it.
He could not speak to ask the old man anything; it seemed he was only allowed to act. Accepting the old man's outstretched hand was his only option.
...
Flower Higanbana
Somewhere between darkness and light, Chu Qiao arrived in the underworld, her indigo scarf covering her face. With every step she took, plum blossoms fell onto the underworld's soil, their sweet scent filling the air, calming the spies and other underworld entities.
She moved gracefully, as if parading before a group of powerful spirits. These spies were not ordinary beings but hybrids of human souls and spiritual entities, angels of both light and darkness. Their nature was indescribable, a mysterious combination of the mortal and the supernatural.
They all bowed to the princess as plum blossoms fell along her path, and she continued to walk, her eyes closed.
She suddenly sensed that time had stopped. The tattoo on her back began to rise from her skin, as though leaving her body. It spiraled through the air, forming the appearance of a Higanbana flower.
In an instant, she found herself at the forgotten river.
The ancient man, surprised by her presence, bowed and accepted the Higanbana flower. It hovered before him, and his sad, droopy eyes, lined with wrinkles, revealed the passage of time and age.
Chu Qiao then closed her eyes, and the old man took the young man's hand. The young man gave his hand willingly when, suddenly, an unblinding light flashed before him, and like an eternity, he disappeared from sight.
Suddenly, Chu Qiao found herself among sand dunes and endless deserts. She knew she had to find her path.
In the space between consciousness and unconsciousness, she instinctively knew where the trail lay. This was not her first journey here. She walked with more confidence this time, though her empty stare reflected a deep sense of loss. Her memories had once again faded, sacrificed in exchange for another life.
Like the lyrics of a song, her mantra echoed in her mind:
"Look at the state we're in, this docile apathy; we fight and stumble aimlessly."
"We broke our promises one too many times; when hope is a ghost, fear survives."
"I'm just gonna sit here, I'm just gonna stay here for a while; need to catch my breath here. What do we do now?"
"Look at the empty stares of once mighty men, fallen and fragile, so unsure. Who do we look to now? How can we trust again, when hope is a ghost, and fear survives?"
This was the price of being the secret princess, gaining access to hidden pathways and other dimensions. While her mortal body remained suspended on earth, her soul journeyed through a thousand deserts, descending into hell but not lost.
There was no sense of time until she found her way and freed herself from this beautiful curse. The price of her powers was harrowing: the loss of her memories, a toll beyond the reach of any ordinary human soul.
Ge Qi suddenly awakened, feeling as though he had only been asleep for hours when in reality, a week had passed. He found himself back at the Xiuli Army post on Xiuli Mountain.
He awoke to a mild pain in his back and saw one of the Xiuli medics standing nearby. Meeting the medic's eyes, Ge Qi asked, "Where is General Chu?"
The medic, his eyes kind, gently replied, "What are you talking about?"
Just then, a young Xiuli lieutenant, Wu Danyu, from the Du Wei troops, entered. Sensing Ge Qi's confusion, he asked the medic to give Ge Qi some time to recover. "Maybe the medicines used to treat his wounds are making him hallucinate," Wu Danyu speculated. "His wounds healed faster than usual. How did that happen?"
No one could explain it, but the most important thing was that Ge Qi was alive.
Feeling reassured by his comrade's presence, Ge Qi said, "I know I'm not crazy. I saw General Chu. She was with a girl whose lips were like fire, and she had a long whip." Ge Qi sat up, eager to tell more of his story.
Wu Danyu, though perplexed, couldn't make sense of what Ge Qi was describing. He gently pushed Ge Qi back onto the bed and said, "Alright, we'll talk more once you've healed completely. For now, you need more rest. Get back on your feet, okay?"
Smiling, Wu Danyu patted him on the shoulder. Ge Qi, sensing that no one believed him, closed his eyes and reminisced about his last moments with General Chu.
A Rewind to a Week Ago...
Viper took out her magical whip and recited ancient oracles. The whip transformed into a golden whip, glowing as it floated in midair. As light radiated from it, Viper closed her eyes. The whip gently descended onto Ge Qi's back, carefully removing the arrow while its light closed the wound.
For a time, Ge Qi's body was dead, but then he took a breath and came back to life.
The enemy archer had been blinded by Viper's spell and hadn't witnessed what had transpired. Once the spell was complete, Viper freed the archer, who was condemned to live the rest of his life blind. This blindness was the price for making Viper and Chu Qiao use their powers. Meanwhile, Mimi Gongzhu, Chu Qiao, had descended into the underworld, seeking her way back through the crepuscular light.
Exhausted from the effort, Viper placed Ge Qi on one of their horses. Whispering into the horse's ear, she let it smell the map He Xiao had given them. The horse suddenly took off in a swift run and disappeared from sight.
The horse arrived at the Xiuli detachment's army gate, and the guards were astonished to see Ge Qi. They immediately tended to him and collected the saddlebags. The horse, however, turned and galloped back to its master. The guards, intrigued, chased after it.
Their horses were unmatched, even compared to the malnourished-looking ones that others rode.
Viper, drained of energy, collapsed in the forest. Chu Qiao lay unconscious beside her. The horse arrived, sniffing Viper, its master. Viper, barely conscious, looked at the horse with half-opened eyes before drifting off to sleep.
The next day, Viper felt restored as her chi flowed again. She moved Chu Qiao to a safe spot, still near the forest.
Chu Qiao's body was cold, and her palms were slightly burned evidence of what had occurred. She lay sweetly asleep under the forest's mossy canopy, with birds singing overhead. It was a quiet day, one where time seemed to pass unnoticed. How long would it take for her to recover?
Viper could only hope it wouldn't be as long as the time she had rescued Chu Qiao from the frozen lake, a recovery that had taken many weeks before Chu Qiao could stand again.
The young lieutenant Ge Qi had recovered and returned to his usual duties. The Xiuli army had resumed normal operations, becoming a sturdy fortress for Yanbei at the Meilin border pass.
Wu Danyu frequently visited his recovering comrade, and they often reminisced about the past. Ge Qi began to speak: "After the Xiaoqi cavalry's bloody war with the Fire Foxes of Yanbei, they set Beishou City and Hong Chuan City on fire and captured the Xiuli army. We were prisoners of war until Prince Yuan Che converted the Xiuli army into a subordinate force under Wei's Xiaoqi army."
"The bitter past of Xiuli once belonged to General Liu Ziye, who later committed suicide rather than serve Prince Yuan Che. The general's hope was shattered after hearing the news that the entire Yan royal family except for the hostage prince Yan Xun had been executed in Shen Jin Gong. Strategically, Prince Yuan Che appointed He Xiao, the only one left capable of leading the Xiuli army."
"Do you remember the first time we met General Chu?"
Wu Danyu nodded. "We met her dressed in a casual archer's outfit, a beautiful young woman who anyone might underestimate."
"We first met General Chu on the military grounds of Xiaoqi camp," he continued, "after the Wei emperor had issued this decree to the entire Xiaoqi camp:
'To govern the world with civilization and suppress rebellion with military might. The commanders and generals are the pillars of the nation and the mainstays of the government. Thus, I promote talented persons based on their ability, not their background. The lady Chu Qiao is well-educated and trained in military exercises, both virtuous and talented. She treats her Lord with loyalty, serves the emperor with honesty, and acts like Mulan. She is a model to others. She is appointed Coach of Arrow in Xiaoqi camp. I hope she will die honorably on the battlefield, forget selfishness for the public good, and not disappoint my expectations.'"
Ge Qi stared into the distance, recalling the moment. "I remember the first time we encountered her on the military grounds. Vice Commander He Xiao had a thick rope around his neck, his hands bound, while Commander-in-Chief Xue Zhelig hurled accusations at him. They had promised to execute him for plotting rebellion among the troops. I was there, trying to reconcile the two commanders."
Wu Danyu, lost in memory, added, "I remember those events clearly. The order for execution had been given, and our deputy was about to be killed when General Chu arrived. You bravely stood up for the deputy, pleading that he had no intention of leading a rebellion."
Ge Qi smiled. "You gave the second motion, asking Commander Xue to forgive him. Looking back now, it was reckless. We were ready to have our necks cut for that!"
Wu Danyu laughed. "Do you remember why General He Xiao always fought with Commander Xue?"
Ge Qi chuckled. "Because the deputy general kept talking about going back home to Yanbei."
They both shared a hearty laugh. "As trivial as it was, they accused He Xiao of shaking the Xiuli army's morale," Wu Danyu added, still laughing.
Ge Qi continued, "I also remember how General Chu defended He Xiao that day."
Wu Danyu nodded. "General Chu demanded evidence, asking to see a report first. Commander Xue said there was no need for the general to know, he was simply 'cleaning house.' General Chu responded that the soldier he wanted to execute wasn't just anyone, but the Vice Commander of Xiaoqi camp and the General of the Xiuli troop, responsible for the safety of Chang'an City. She advised him to report to Prince Yuan Che or General Yuwen first. The look on Commander Xue's face was priceless."
Ge Qi laughed. "I'll never forget how his face turned sour, like he wanted to hit someone but couldn't."
Wu Danyu joined in the laughter. "That square face of his! ha, ha!"
Suddenly, a loud knock echoed through the camp. A Xiuli guard approached and reported that someone was waiting outside the gate.
Ge Qi asked, "Who are they?"
The junior guard replied, "We couldn't see their faces, but they gave us this…"
Ge Qi stared in shock. "My dagger! Wu Danyu, I'm not crazy, it's General Chu and the whipping girl!"
Wu Danyu raised a curious brow. "Are you sure? Let's check from the watchtower."
They hurried to the watchtower and saw two figures in black hoods, riding sturdy brown horses.
A Xiuli guard beside them exclaimed, "Lieutenant, that's the horse that brought you to the gates and then disappeared so fast our horses couldn't keep up!"
Ge Qi, excited, shouted, "Let them pass!"
A cracking sound followed as the gates of Xiuli Mounties opened to allow the two figures inside.
Chu Qiao, with her black hood concealing her face, appeared on one horse, while Viper, with the same blood-red hood, rode beside her. It was as if none of the hell they had gone through a week before had ever happened.
Ge Qi and Wu Danyu descended and bowed to Chu Qiao, whose lips, soft and pink like cotton candy, were the only visible part of her face under the black hood. Viper stood behind her, more mysterious, choosing not to reveal herself to the gathering crowd.
Their arrival caused a stir, and soon soldiers began to gather, forming a circle around them. Some were drawn to the softness of Chu Qiao's lips, while others were captivated by Viper's darker, villainous presence. It was as though light and darkness had arrived together at the camp.
Chu Qiao, her head bowed, felt the weak chi and energy all around her. Slowly, she let her black hood fall, revealing the bloody red interior, which only intensified the fierce expression on her face. The soldiers were astonished, recognizing her immediately.
Ge Qi had been anticipating this moment, and now it had arrived.
"It's the lost General Chu! She's returned!" The words rippled through the crowd, and excitement buzzed among the military men. Viper, still concealed, remained silent, not planning to meet the troops just yet.
Ge Qi called out, "Yes, this is General Chu! The general who saved me from a deadly arrow and brought provisions to our camp!"
The crowd grew louder, and all around, soldiers dropped to their knees, their boots and uniforms muddy and torn. They wore worn-out helmets, battered shields, and fading breastplates. The once-proud Xiuli Army, the Fire Fox of Yanbei, now looked ragged and weary.
Some men had grown old in the struggle, their uniforms ripped, but they continued to stand and fight. Others wept, while many just wanted to glimpse General Chu up close. They thanked the Qians for her return, vowing never to leave her side again.
Chu Qiao should have felt strange, as she had given away many of her memories. But at that moment, she remembered clearly, the faces around her, the tears of joy, and the sounds of victory. This world was where she felt most alive.
This was the place where her heart raced, where she could feel the people's hope renewed, their despair transformed into joy. This was her dream world one where everyone would be free, where there would be no more slaves, no more wars. Only stars shining and people living in peace.
In a hushed tone, she finally said, "This is my faith!"
Chu Qiao walked slowly, and the crowd parted to let her pass. She approached the tattered Xiuli flag at the corner of the camp, took it in her hands, and carried it to the center.
All eyes were on her. Chu Qiao's face remained calm but determined. Viper stood waiting in the center, while Ge Qi and Wu Danyu followed closely behind.
Suddenly, Chu Qiao raised the Xiuli flag high and planted it firmly into the ground.
The wind blew, scattering leaves into the air. The force of Chu Qiao's action sent a vibration through the entire camp. The soldiers felt it and shouted in unison, "This is my faith!"
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